Device for raising and lowering floors of theaters and halls



(No Model.)

G. G. ADAMS.

DEVICE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING FLOORS OF THEATERS AND HALLS.

N0. 366,290. Patented, July 12, 1887.

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N. PETERS. PhnlwLHfiogmphor. Washington D C U ITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

GEORGE G. ADAMS, OF LAWVBENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

! DEVICE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING FLOORS 0F THEATERS AND HALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,290, dated July 12, 1887.

Application filed May 8, 1886. Serial No. 201,619. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in tipping floors for theaters or halls and for the device for lowering and raising said floor and maintaining the floor in a raised position; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as wiltenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an inclined floor for theaters or halls and to the machinery for raising and lowering such floor and maintaining it in an inclined position. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the mechanism across a hall-floor, also showing the floor above the hall on which the raising and lowering mechanism is mounted. Fig. 2 is a section of the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

Same letters of reference indicate like parts in the drawings.

On a floor, K, above the main floor A of the hall, is mounted a shaft, D, turningin suitable bearings and carrying at proper intervals drums O G, on which are wound wire or other ropes B, attached to the movable end of the floor A. This floor is arranged to be inclined as a whole, turning on a suitable bearing or bearings, 02, along a line toward the stage or platform, as indicated in Fig. 2, such bearing being shown as being upon the ceiling R of the story below the hall, on which the floor rests throughout its whole extent when lowered, as indicated by dotted lines a a, Figs. 1 and 2. Secured to shaft D is a worm or other toothed wheel, E, with which gears a worm, F, or driving-pinion on a shaft, H, transverse to shaft D, and supported in bearings T.

I is ahand-wheel by which shaft His turned.

0 Oare shafts running from side to side of the hall beneath floor A, and carrying supports or standards M M. These shafts are provided with handles N, by which the shafts and supports M may be rocked from the position shown in dotted lines to thatin full lines, Fig. 2. The standards M are adapted to sup port the floor when in an inclined position, and when so used metallic plates S, carried by longitudinal sills P of the floor, rest upon the upper ends of the standards. It will be un derstood that standards or supports of different lengths will be used as it is desired to incline the floor more or less.

By means of the mechanism described the floor of an entire hall may be given any desired inclination; or, if preferred, the floor may be divided into several sections, each of which may be provided with my invention, and all or any one or more of the sections may be inclined, as desired.

I am aware that prior to my invention tipping floors have been made or used, being raised, however, by jack-screws or hydraulics in the cellar of the building, and pushing the floor up from below. I am also aware that theaters have been provided with movable stages having two or more floors arranged one above the other, which movable stage is adapted to be raised or lowered relatively to the mainstage, so as to bring one or the other of its floors on a level therewith, and such earlier devices I disclaim; but

WVhat I do claim,and desire to secure by Letters .Patent, is-

1. The combination ofa movable floor for a hall, having a bearing along one edge, and mechanism, substantially as described, arranged above the floor for tipping the floor on said bearing to give it an incline, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the ceiling R, of a movable floor resting thereon and having a bearing, :0, about which it is adapted to turn, and mechanism, substantially as described, arranged above said floor for elevating the end of the floor opposite thesaid bearing, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a movable floor having a bearing, as at :0, along one side, about which it is adapted to be turned, of mechan ism for turning said floor 011 said bearing to I taining thesfloor in an inclined position, sub- IO give it an inclined position, and supports for stantially as described.

maintaining the floor in an inclined position, In testimony whereofI aifix my signature in substantially as described. presence of two Witnesses.

4. The combination of a tipping floor a I shaft carrying drums arranged above the fiobr, GEORGE ropes attached to the floor and passing around I Witnesses: I the drums, rocking shafts 0 below the floor, v BENJAMIN F. CHADBOURNE, and supports carried by shafts 0 for maini LANGDON E. LocKE. 

